I've recently been let down by 2 joiners who were supposed to be redecorating my bathroom for me, so I've decided to buy all the materials needed and do most of the work myself. Obviously I'll get a professional where needed. I'm pretty good at DIY and also want to keep costs down cause money's pretty tight just now. Listed below are all the things that need done. What I'm looking for is someone to tell me what materials I need and what things will definitely need to be done by a professional.
1.Hole in my floor from water damage needs fixed (not sure if it can be patched or if the whole floor needs replaced)
2.Tiles on the rest of the floor need lifted
3.Ceiling possibly needs replaced (not sure of this because I've currently got wood panelling all over it and the guy upstairs had a leak which was dripping through)
4.All wall tiles to be removed (floor to ceilling)
Walls will probably need new plasterboard and plastering
5.Re-tile just the bath/shower area
6.Fit new skirting boards
7.Lay new floor tiles
8.Small shelf area at sink to be tiled with a couple of rows of small tiles
9.New taps to be fitted on bath and sink
10.New shower pole to be fitted
11.New shower screen to be fitted
12.New bath panel to be fitted
I hope all that makes sense. I was hoping to remove all the tiles myself but I'm not sure of the best way to start as my whole bathroom is tiled, any tips?
1. & 2. You dont say what the underflooring is. Once you remove the tiles it will be shagged anyway and need replacing. If it is plywood it will have been screwed down. If the tiles are ceramic you will never find the screw heads so you will need a crowbar and saw to remove the ply. Took me 3 hours to remove my sub floor in my tiny bathroom!!!
3. Ceiling - wood panel or tongue and groove- often used to hide bad ceilings. will come down easily if the latter, just use a crow bar and hammer. Watch out for nails landing on you.
4. Wall tiles hammer and bolster or a minicrow bar like this one
http://www.axminster.co.uk/ice-bear-japanese-restorers-cats-paw-prod19817/
not cheap but perfect for tiles on plaster walls.
Are you sure that the walls are plaster board? If they are then sometimes you can punch through and pull the plasterboard off in sections. v messy and you must wear glasses, ceramic tile splinters are evil.
If you are really unlucky and the tiles are 50 years or older they might have been applied on cement. You will need a kango (pneumatic hammer/drill) to remove them.
5. re-tiling- get a pro especially around the shower. if the walls were plasterboard then the shower area needs a cement type board- NOT plasterboard
7. Lay new subfloor first and then tile
6. A decent timber merchant can pre cut these for you
8. DiY
9. Fitting bath taps can be a pig. You need special tools to tighten them with sufficient torque
10/11 why do you need both- both are easy to fit.
12- Normally easy to fit.
Sorry about being so vague but we haven't got alot to go on. Nor do we know how capable you are.
You will need to consider that the toilet, rad, shower and sink will need to come off to be able to take the tiles off and so that things can be replastered.
If you have a second bathroom i would recommend starting by removing all sanitaryware first, even the bath. that way you have space to work and will reduce the risk of damaging them. Also get a sparks to isolate the electricity.
You will need dozens of rubble sack to put the tiles in. they will be sharp and will rip the bags/ your legs so only half fill them- also makes them easier to carry. Buy these from a trade store.
The easiest tiles to remove will be the ones on plasterboard. If the walls are bonding and plaster and fairly sound them a steam stripper will make it easier to remove the old adhesive.
if the ceiling is tongue and grove the lengths will need cutting down, unless you have a skip or van to put them in. If you intend to take them down get help. the nails will be small but will hurt if the wood falls on you. Also expect lots of soot depending on the age. I have had dead birds fall on me in the past- fortunately skeletal. As you remove them flatten the nails over with a hammer. if you stand on a nail pointing up you will, at best, need a tetanus jab n the bum.
Do wear the boring; dust mask, goggles, gloves, head protection, boots etc.
Most importantly do not rush things, you will increase the risk of accidents.
You are working in one of the most difficult rooms, also one of the most expensive.
I only decided to do my bathroom because provisional costs were inexcess of £10000 for a 2mx2m room. I started in march but have done all of the work. the only thing i will sub out is the self levelling compound and the real lino floor. I have the advantage though of having all of the thousands pounds worth of tools that i needed.
Good luck and post back with each specific stage for detailed help.
My advice is only a very rough outline, i don't feel comfortable about giving it but I want you to understand the scope of the job. Please do not think that i am being intentionally condescending.
